[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 143 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43160-43165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16955]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 1000 and 1033

[Docket No. AO-166-A77; DA-08-06]


Milk in the Mideast Marketing Areas; Notice of Hearing on 
Proposed Amendments to Tentative Marketing Agreement and Order

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing on proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: A public hearing is being held to consider and take evidence 
on a proposal to temporarily adjust certain Class I differentials in 
the Mideast milk marketing order.

DATES: The hearing will convene at 9 a.m., on Tuesday, August 19, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the Westin Cincinnati Hotel--21 
E 5th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, phone (513) 621-7700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin C. Taylor, Marketing Specialist, 
Order Formulation and Enforcement, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Stop 0231--
Room 2963, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0231, 
(202) 720-2357, e-mail-address: [email protected].
    Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other special 
accommodations should contact Paul Huber, Assistant Market 
Administrator, at (330) 225-4758; e-mail: [email protected] before 
the hearing begins.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This administrative action is governed by 
the provisions of sections 556 and 557 of Title 5 of the United States 
Code and, therefore, is excluded from the requirements of Executive 
Order 12866.
    Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held at the Westin 
Cincinnati Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio, beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 
August 19, 2008, with respect to a proposed amendment to the tentative 
marketing agreement and to the order regulating the handling of milk in 
the Mideast marketing area.
    The hearing is called pursuant to the provisions of the 
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-
674) (Act), and the applicable rules of practice and procedure 
governing the formulation of marketing agreements and marketing orders 
(7 CFR Part 900).
    Land O'Lakes, Inc., Michigan Milk Producers Association, Inc., 
Foremost Farms USA Cooperative, Inc., Dairylea Cooperative Inc., 
National Farmers Organization Inc., and Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. 
have jointly submitted a proposal that seeks to temporarily increase 
the Class I differentials in the southern tier of the Mideast milk 
marketing order. In addition to this proposed amendment to the order, 
AMS proposes to make any such changes as may be necessary to the order 
and its administrative rules and regulations to conform to any 
amendment that may result from the hearing.
    The purpose of the hearing is to receive evidence with respect to 
the economic and marketing conditions which relate to the proposed 
amendments, hereinafter set forth, and any appropriate modifications 
thereof, to the tentative marketing agreement and to the order.
    Evidence also will be taken to determine whether emergency 
marketing conditions exist that would warrant omission of a recommended 
decision under the rules of practice and procedure (7 CFR 900.12(d)) 
with respect to any proposed amendments.
    Actions under the Federal milk order program are subject to the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) (RFA). The RFA seeks to 
ensure that, within the statutory authority of a program, the 
regulatory and information collection requirements are tailored to the 
size and nature of small businesses. For the purpose of the RFA, a 
dairy farm is a ``small business'' if it has an annual gross revenue of 
less than $750,000, and a dairy products manufacturer is a ``small 
business'' if it has fewer than 500 employees (13 CFR 121.201). Most 
parties subject to a milk order are considered as a small business. 
Accordingly, interested parties are invited to present evidence on the 
probable regulatory and informational impact of the hearing proposals 
on small businesses. Also, parties may suggest modifications of these 
proposals for the purpose of tailoring their applicability to small 
businesses.
    The amendments to the rules proposed herein have been reviewed 
under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. They are not 
intended to have a retroactive effect. If adopted, the proposed 
amendments would not preempt any state or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule.
    The Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act provides that 
administrative proceedings must be exhausted before parties may file 
suit in court. Under section 8c(15)(A) of the Act, any handler subject 
to an order may request modification or exemption from such order by 
filing with the Department of Agriculture (Department) a petition 
stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation 
imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with the law. 
A handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the petition. 
After a hearing, the Department would rule on the petition. The Act 
provides that the district court of the United States in any district 
in which the handler is an inhabitant, has its principal place of 
business, has jurisdiction in equity to review the Department's ruling 
on the petition, provided a bill in equity is filed not later than 20 
days after the date of the entry of the ruling.

[[Page 43161]]

    Interested parties who wish to introduce exhibits should provide 
the Presiding Officer at the hearing with (4) copies of such exhibits 
for the Official Record. Also, it would be helpful if additional copies 
are available for the use of other participants at the hearing.
    The proposed amendments, as set forth below, have not received the 
approval of the Department.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Parts 1000 and 1033

    Milk marketing orders.

    The authority citations for 7 CFR parts 1000 and 1033 read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674, and 7253.

    Proposed by Land O'Lakes, Inc., Michigan Milk Producers 
Association, Inc., Foremost Farms USA Cooperative, Inc., Dairylea 
Cooperative Inc., National Farmers Organization Inc., and Dairy Farmers 
of America, Inc.

Proposal 1

    This proposal would temporarily adjust the Class I pricing surface 
for the southern counties within the geographical marketing area of the 
Mideast milk marketing order. Specifically, this proposal, on a 
temporary basis, would modify section 1000.51 of the general provisions 
of Federal milk orders by including a ``Class I price adjustment,'' 
which would be added to the Class I price ``mover,'' and to the section 
1000.52 Class I differential, to obtain the minimum Order Class I 
price. The proposed changes to the Class I prices for plant locations 
in the Mideast milk marketing area would range from an increase of 
$0.15 per cwt to an increase of $0.40 per cwt.
    1. Amend Sec.  1000.50 by revising paragraphs (b) and (c), to read 
as follows:


Sec.  1000.50  Class prices, component prices and advanced pricing 
factors.

* * * * *
    (b) Class I skim milk price. The Class I skim milk price per 
hundredweight shall be the adjusted Class I differential specified in 
Sec.  1000.52 plus the adjustment to Class I prices specified in Sec.  
1005.51(b), Sec.  1006.51(b), Sec.  1007.51(b) and Sec.  1033.51(b) 
plus the higher of the advanced pricing factors computed in paragraphs 
(q)(1) or (2) of this section.
    (c) Class I butterfat price. The Class I butterfat price per pound 
shall be the adjusted Class I differential specified in Sec.  1000.52 
divided by 100, plus the adjustments to Class I prices specified in 
Sec.  1005.51(b), Sec.  1006.51(b), Sec.  1007.51(b) and Sec.  
1033.51(b) divided by 100, plus the advanced butterfat price computed 
in paragraph (q)(3) of this section.
* * * * *
    2. Revise Sec.  1033.51 to read as follows:


Sec.  1033.51  Class I differential, adjustments to class I prices and 
class I price.

    (a) The Class I differential shall be the differential established 
for Cuyahoga County, Ohio, which is reported in Sec.  1000.52. The 
Class I price shall be the price computed pursuant to Sec.  1033.50 (a) 
for Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
    (b) Adjustments to Class I prices. Class I prices shall be 
established pursuant to Sec.  1000.50 (a), (b), and (c) using the 
following adjustments:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Class I
           State                 County/parrish       FIPS    adjustment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN.........................  ADAMS................    18001         0.00
IN.........................  ALLEN................    18003         0.00
IN.........................  BARTHOLOMEW..........    18005         0.20
IN.........................  BENTON...............    18007         0.00
IN.........................  BLACKFORD............    18009         0.00
IN.........................  BOONE................    18011         0.15
IN.........................  BROWN................    18013         0.20
IN.........................  CARROLL..............    18015         0.00
IN.........................  CASS.................    18017         0.00
IN.........................  CLAY.................    18021         0.15
IN.........................  CLINTON..............    18023         0.00
IN.........................  DE KALB..............    18033         0.00
IN.........................  DEARBORN.............    18029         0.20
IN.........................  DECATUR..............    18031         0.20
IN.........................  DELAWARE.............    18035         0.15
IN.........................  ELKHART..............    18039         0.00
IN.........................  FAYETTE..............    18041         0.15
IN.........................  FOUNTAIN.............    18045         0.00
IN.........................  FRANKLIN.............    18047         0.15
IN.........................  FULTON...............    18049         0.00
IN.........................  GRANT................    18053         0.00
IN.........................  HAMILTON.............    18057         0.15
IN.........................  HANCOCK..............    18059         0.15
IN.........................  HENDRICKS............    18063         0.15
IN.........................  HENRY................    18065         0.15
IN.........................  HOWARD...............    18067         0.00
IN.........................  HUNTINGTON...........    18069         0.00
IN.........................  JACKSON..............    18071         0.20
IN.........................  JASPER...............    18073         0.00
IN.........................  JAY..................    18075         0.00
IN.........................  JEFFERSON............    18077         0.20
IN.........................  JENNINGS.............    18079         0.20
IN.........................  JOHNSON..............    18081         0.15
IN.........................  KOSCIUSKO............    18085         0.00
IN.........................  LA PORTE.............    18091         0.00
IN.........................  LAGRANGE.............    18087         0.00
IN.........................  LAKE.................    18089         0.00
IN.........................  LAWRENCE.............    18093         0.20
IN.........................  MADISON..............    18095         0.15
IN.........................  MARION...............    18097         0.15
IN.........................  MARSHALL.............    18099         0.00

[[Page 43162]]

 
IN.........................  MIAMI................    18103         0.00
IN.........................  MONROE...............    18105         0.20
IN.........................  MONTGOMERY...........    18107         0.15
IN.........................  MORGAN...............    18109         0.15
IN.........................  NEWTON...............    18111         0.00
IN.........................  NOBLE................    18113         0.00
IN.........................  OHIO.................    18115         0.20
IN.........................  OWEN.................    18119         0.15
IN.........................  PARKE................    18121         0.15
IN.........................  PORTER...............    18127         0.00
IN.........................  PULASKI..............    18131         0.00
IN.........................  PUTNAM...............    18133         0.15
IN.........................  RANDOLPH.............    18135         0.15
IN.........................  RIPLEY...............    18137         0.20
IN.........................  RUSH.................    18139         0.15
IN.........................  SHELBY...............    18145         0.15
IN.........................  ST. JOSEPH...........    18141         0.00
IN.........................  STARKE...............    18149         0.00
IN.........................  STEUBEN..............    18151         0.00
IN.........................  SULLIVAN.............    18153         0.00
IN.........................  SWITZERLAND..........    18155         0.20
IN.........................  TIPPECANOE...........    18157         0.00
IN.........................  TIPTON...............    18159         0.00
IN.........................  UNION................    18161         0.15
IN.........................  VERMILLION...........    18165         0.15
IN.........................  VIGO.................    18167         0.15
IN.........................  WABASH...............    18169         0.00
IN.........................  WARREN...............    18171         0.00
IN.........................  WAYNE................    18177         0.15
IN.........................  WELLS................    18179         0.00
IN.........................  WHITE................    18181         0.00
IN.........................  WHITLEY..............    18183         0.00
KY.........................   BOONE...............    21015         0.20
KY.........................   BOYD................    21019         0.20
KY.........................   BRACKEN.............    21023         0.20
KY.........................   CAMPBELL............    21037         0.20
KY.........................   FLOYD...............    21071         0.40
KY.........................   GRANT...............    21081         0.20
KY.........................   GREENUP.............    21089         0.20
KY.........................   HARRISON............    21097         0.20
KY.........................   JOHNSON.............    21115         0.40
KY.........................   KENTON..............    21117         0.20
KY.........................   LAWRENCE............    21127         0.20
KY.........................   LEWIS...............    21135         0.20
KY.........................   MAGOFFIN............    21153         0.40
KY.........................   MARION..............    21155         0.00
KY.........................   MARSHALL............    21157         0.00
KY.........................   MARTIN..............    21159         0.40
KY.........................   MASON...............    21161         0.20
KY.........................   PENDLETON...........    21191         0.20
KY.........................   PIKE................    21195         0.20
KY.........................   ROBERTSON...........    21201         0.20
MI.........................   ALCONA..............    26001         0.00
MI.........................   ALGER...............    26003         0.00
MI.........................   ALLEGAN.............    26005         0.00
MI.........................   ALPENA..............    26007         0.00
MI.........................   ANTRIM..............    26009         0.00
MI.........................   ARENAC..............    26011         0.00
MI.........................   BARAGA..............    26013         0.00
MI.........................   BARRY...............    26015         0.00
MI.........................   BAY.................    26017         0.00
MI.........................   BENZIE..............    26019         0.00
MI.........................   BERRIEN.............    26021         0.00
MI.........................   BRANCH..............    26023         0.00
MI.........................   CALHOUN.............    26025         0.00
MI.........................   CASS................    26027         0.00
MI.........................   CHARLEVOIX..........    26029         0.00
MI.........................   CHEBOYGAN...........    26031         0.00
MI.........................   CHIPPEWA............    26033         0.00
MI.........................   CLARE...............    26035         0.00
MI.........................   CLINTON.............    26037         0.00
MI.........................   CRAWFORD............    26039         0.00
MI.........................   EATON...............    26045         0.00

[[Page 43163]]

 
MI.........................   EMMET...............    26047         0.00
MI.........................   GENESEE.............    26049         0.00
MI.........................   GLADWIN.............    26051         0.00
MI.........................   GRAND TRAVERSE......    26055         0.00
MI.........................   GRATIOT.............    26057         0.00
MI.........................   HILLSDALE...........    26059         0.00
MI.........................   HOUGHTON............    26061         0.00
MI.........................   HURON...............    26063         0.00
MI.........................   INGHAM..............    26065         0.00
MI.........................   IONIA...............    26067         0.00
MI.........................   IOSCO...............    26069         0.00
MI.........................   IRON................    26071         0.00
MI.........................   ISABELLA............    26073         0.00
MI.........................   JACKSON.............    26075         0.00
MI.........................   KALAMAZOO...........    26077         0.00
MI.........................   KALKASKA............    26079         0.00
MI.........................   KENT................    26081         0.00
MI.........................   KEWEENAW............    26083         0.00
MI.........................   LAKE................    26085         0.00
MI.........................   LAPEER..............    26087         0.00
MI.........................   LEELANAU............    26089         0.00
MI.........................   LENAWEE.............    26091         0.00
MI.........................   LIVINGSTON..........    26093         0.00
MI.........................   LUCE................    26095         0.00
MI.........................   MACKINAC............    26097         0.00
MI.........................   MACOMB..............    26099         0.00
MI.........................   MANISTEE............    26101         0.00
MI.........................   MARQUETTE...........    26103         0.00
MI.........................   MASON...............    26105         0.00
MI.........................   MECOSTA.............    26107         0.00
MI.........................   MIDLAND.............    26111         0.00
MI.........................   MISSAUKEE...........    26113         0.00
MI.........................   MONROE..............    26115         0.00
MI.........................   MONTCALM............    26117         0.00
MI.........................   MONTMORENCY.........    26119         0.00
MI.........................   MUSKEGON............    26121         0.00
MI.........................   NEWAYGO.............    26123         0.00
MI.........................   OAKLAND.............    26125         0.00
MI.........................   OCEANA..............    26127         0.00
MI.........................   OGEMAW..............    26129         0.00
MI.........................   OSCEOLA.............    26133         0.00
MI.........................   OSCODA..............    26135         0.00
MI.........................   OTSEGO..............    26137         0.00
MI.........................   OTTAWA..............    26139         0.00
MI.........................   PRESQUE ISLE........    26141         0.00
MI.........................   ROSCOMMON...........    26143         0.00
MI.........................   SAGINAW.............    26145         0.00
MI.........................   SANILAC.............    26151         0.00
MI.........................   SCHOOLCRAFT.........    26153         0.00
MI.........................   SHIAWASSEE..........    26155         0.00
MI.........................   ST. CLAIR...........    26147         0.00
MI.........................   ST. JOSEPH..........    26149         0.00
MI.........................   TUSCOLA.............    26157         0.00
MI.........................   VAN BUREN...........    26159         0.00
MI.........................   WASHTENAW...........    26161         0.00
MI.........................   WAYNE...............    26163         0.00
MI.........................   WEXFORD.............    26165         0.00
OH.........................   ADAMS...............    39001         0.20
OH.........................   ALLEN...............    39003         0.00
OH.........................   ASHLAND.............    39005         0.00
OH.........................   ASHTABULA...........    39007         0.00
OH.........................   ATHENS..............    39009         0.15
OH.........................   AUGLAIZE............    39011         0.00
OH.........................   BELMONT.............    39013         0.00
OH.........................   BROWN...............    39015         0.20
OH.........................   BUTLER..............    39017         0.15
OH.........................   CARROLL.............    39019         0.00
OH.........................   CHAMPAIGN...........    39021         0.00
OH.........................   CLARK...............    39023         0.15
OH.........................   CLERMONT............    39025         0.20
OH.........................   CLINTON.............    39027         0.15
OH.........................   COLUMBIANA..........    39029         0.00
OH.........................   COSHOCTON...........    39031         0.00

[[Page 43164]]

 
OH.........................   CRAWFORD............    39033         0.00
OH.........................   CUYAHOGA............    39035         0.00
OH.........................   DARKE...............    39037         0.15
OH.........................   DEFIANCE............    39039         0.00
OH.........................   DELAWARE............    39041         0.00
OH.........................   FAIRFIELD...........    39045         0.15
OH.........................   FAYETTE.............    39047         0.15
OH.........................   FRANKLIN............    39049         0.15
OH.........................   FULTON..............    39051         0.00
OH.........................   GALLIA..............    39053         0.20
OH.........................   GEAUGA..............    39055         0.00
OH.........................   GREENE..............    39057         0.15
OH.........................   GUERNSEY............    39059         0.15
OH.........................   HAMILTON............    39061         0.20
OH.........................   HANCOCK.............    39063         0.00
OH.........................   HARDIN..............    39065         0.00
OH.........................   HARRISON............    39067         0.00
OH.........................   HENRY...............    39069         0.00
OH.........................   HIGHLAND............    39071         0.20
OH.........................   HOCKING.............    39073         0.15
OH.........................   HOLMES..............    39075         0.00
OH.........................   JACKSON.............    39079         0.20
OH.........................   JEFFERSON...........    39081         0.00
OH.........................   KNOX................    39083         0.00
OH.........................   LAKE................    39085         0.00
OH.........................   LAWRENCE............    39087         0.20
OH.........................   LICKING.............    39089         0.15
OH.........................   LOGAN...............    39091         0.00
OH.........................   LORAIN..............    39093         0.00
OH.........................   LUCAS...............    39095         0.00
OH.........................   MADISON.............    39097         0.15
OH.........................   MAHONING............    39099         0.00
OH.........................   MARION..............    39101         0.00
OH.........................   MEDINA..............    39103         0.00
OH.........................   MEIGS...............    39105         0.15
OH.........................   MERCER..............    39107         0.00
OH.........................   MIAMI...............    39109         0.15
OH.........................   MONROE..............    39111         0.15
OH.........................   MONTGOMERY..........    39113         0.15
OH.........................   MORGAN..............    39115         0.15
OH.........................   MORROW..............    39117         0.00
OH.........................   MUSKINGUM...........    39119         0.15
OH.........................   NOBLE...............    39121         0.15
OH.........................   PAULDING............    39125         0.00
OH.........................   PERRY...............    39127         0.15
OH.........................   PICKAWAY............    39129         0.15
OH.........................   PIKE................    39131         0.20
OH.........................   PORTAGE.............    39133         0.00
OH.........................   PREBLE..............    39135         0.15
OH.........................   PUTNAM..............    39137         0.00
OH.........................   RICHLAND............    39139         0.00
OH.........................   ROSS................    39141         0.15
OH.........................   SANDUSKY............    39143         0.00
OH.........................   SCIOTO..............    39145         0.20
OH.........................   SENECA..............    39147         0.00
OH.........................   SHELBY..............    39149         0.00
OH.........................   STARK...............    39151         0.00
OH.........................   SUMMIT..............    39153         0.00
OH.........................   TRUMBULL............    39155         0.00
OH.........................   TUSCARAWAS..........    39157         0.00
OH.........................   UNION...............    39159         0.00
OH.........................   VAN WERT............    39161         0.00
OH.........................   VINTON..............    39163         0.15
OH.........................   WARREN..............    39165         0.15
OH.........................   WASHINGTON..........    39167         0.15
OH.........................   WAYNE...............    39169         0.00
OH.........................   WILLIAMS............    39171         0.00
OH.........................   WOOD................    39173         0.00
OH.........................   WYANDOT.............    39175         0.00
PA.........................   ALLEGHENY...........    42003         0.00
PA.........................   ARMSTRONG...........    42005         0.00
PA.........................   BEAVER..............    42007         0.00
PA.........................   BUTLER..............    42019         0.00

[[Page 43165]]

 
PA.........................   CLARION.............    42031         0.00
PA.........................   CRAWFORD............    42039         0.00
PA.........................   ERIE................    42049         0.00
PA.........................   FAYETTE.............    42051         0.00
PA.........................   GREENE..............    42059         0.00
PA.........................   LAWRENCE............    42073         0.00
PA.........................   MERCER..............    42085         0.00
PA.........................   VENANGO.............    42121         0.00
PA.........................   WASHINGTON..........    42125         0.00
PA.........................   WESTMORELAND........    42129         0.00
WV.........................   BARBOUR.............    54001         0.00
WV.........................   BOONE...............    54005         0.40
WV.........................   BROOKE..............    54009         0.00
WV.........................   CABELL..............    54011         0.20
WV.........................   CALHOUN.............    54013         0.20
WV.........................   DODDRIDGE...........    54017         0.00
WV.........................   FAYETTE.............    54019         0.40
WV.........................   GILMER..............    54021         0.20
WV.........................   HANCOCK.............    54029         0.00
WV.........................   HARRISON............    54033         0.00
WV.........................   JACKSON.............    54035         0.20
WV.........................   KANAWHA.............    54039         0.40
WV.........................   LEWIS...............    54041         0.00
WV.........................   LINCOLN.............    54043         0.40
WV.........................   LOGAN...............    54045         0.40
WV.........................   MARION..............    54049         0.00
WV.........................   MARSHALL............    54051         0.00
WV.........................   MASON...............    54053         0.20
WV.........................   MINGO...............    54059         0.40
WV.........................   MONONGALIA..........    54061         0.00
WV.........................   OHIO................    54069         0.00
WV.........................   PLEASANTS...........    54073         0.20
WV.........................   PRESTON.............    54077         0.00
WV.........................   PUTNAM..............    54079         0.20
WV.........................   RALEIGH.............    54081         0.40
WV.........................   RANDOLPH............    54083         0.00
WV.........................   RITCHIE.............    54085         0.20
WV.........................   ROANE...............    54087         0.20
WV.........................   TAYLOR..............    54091         0.00
WV.........................  TUCKER...............    54093         0.00
WV.........................  TYLER................    54095         0.00
WV.........................  UPSHUR...............    54097         0.00
WV.........................  WAYNE................    54099         0.20
WV.........................  WETZEL...............    54103         0.00
WV.........................  WIRT.................    54105         0.20
WV.........................  WOOD.................    54107         0.20
WV.........................  WYOMING..............    54109         0.40
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    Proposed by Dairy Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Proposal No. 2

    For all Federal Milk Marketing Orders, make necessary changes to 
make the entire marketing agreements and the orders conform with any 
amendments thereto that may result from this hearing.
    Copies of this notice of hearing and the orders may be procured 
from the Market Administrator of the Mideast marketing area, or from 
the Hearing Clerk, United States Department of Agriculture, STOP 9200--
Room 1031, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9200, or 
may be inspected there.
    Copies of the transcript of testimony taken at the hearing will not 
be available for distribution through the Hearing Clerk's Office. If 
you wish to purchase a copy, arrangements may be made with the reporter 
at the hearing.
    From the time that a hearing notice is issued and until the 
issuance of a final decision in a proceeding, Department employees 
involved in the decision-making process are prohibited from discussing 
the merits of the hearing issues on an ex parte basis with any person 
having an interest in the proceeding. For this particular proceeding, 
the prohibition applies to employees in the following organizational 
units:
    Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.
    Office of the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
    Office of the General Counsel.
    Dairy Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (Washington office) 
and the Offices of all Market Administrators.
    Procedural matters are not subject to the above prohibition and may 
be discussed at any time.

    Dated: July 21, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-16955 Filed 7-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P